There are two broad categories of nuclear facilities that may require decommissioning:
| Category | Description | Examples | Licensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Installation | Uses, stores or handles fissile or fertile material | Fuel fabrication plants, enrichment plants, nuclear reactors, spent fuel stores, reprocessing facilities | Site licence required |
| Nuclear Facility | Uses, stores or handles nuclear material but not fissile or fertile material | Medical establishments, radiopharmaceutical laboratories, industrial radiography, research laboratories | Site licence not required; registration for keeping, storing and disposal of radioactive material is required |
Worldwide, there are approximately 440 nuclear power reactors, many of which are undergoing decommissioning at the moment. In the European Union alone, approximately 100 nuclear facilities are at various stages of decommissioning, and it is forecast that a further 160 facilities will be decommissioned over the next 20 years.